Running Can Be Hard (And That's Okay)

There's a side of running that no one ever really likes to talk about.  When our friends and relatives tell us we're crazy to enjoy running, we just laugh and say how much we love it and how great it feels when we're out for a long run while they're home on the couch.  But what we never let them in on is that sometimes, it really is as bad as they say.  Whether it's because of overtraining, illness, injury, or just a plain old bad day, runners are people too, and we still have times when we think life might be easier if we dropped running and chose to focus on school and Netflix instead.  In the end, though, that is what really separates the great competitors from the has-beens.  The ability to accept that this sport will be trying both mentally and physically at some point in time, and to push themselves through it no matter how difficult it gets.
Like every other athlete, I have experienced these difficulties myself, though no doubt at a much lower level then those who have gone through it on the collegiate or professional level.  While I was competing in high school, there were several times that I would reach a big race and flop.  At the end of my sophomore and junior years, I found myself overtrained and exhausted.  I ran my slowest times of the season at the state meet, which is never desirable.  It's always frustrating as an athlete to be unable to compete at the level you know you would be capable of if you were completely healthy, especially without a concrete explanation.  I felt like I had the need to justify myself and my poor performances to everyone I came in contact with.  

BYU Invite just a year after my encounters with overtraining

Every runner is going to experience this at some point or another.  Distance running has a tendency to injure and exhaust even the best athletes, and it often takes the support of an entire team to get through it.  I am still very grateful for the influence my closest friends and teammates had on me in helping me to keep trying and to realize that a few setbacks would never be enough to keep me off the track forever.
For anyone who is currently struggling with running, this is the best advice I have to offer you:  Don't let it ruin your love for the sport.  It may be difficult right now, but if you give it time, you can get back on your feet and back in the races.  Don't be afraid to take a little time off to recover if you need to, and don't be afraid to rely on your coaches and teammates for support.  It happens to everyone, and it's nothing to be ashamed of.  I know when I got overtrained, I was extremely embarrassed and ashamed of my performances, but it's completely unnecessary to feel that way.  No one is going to blame you for having difficulties now and then.
Best of luck to all of you, and I hope you all enjoy this cross country season.